Schedule for your baby usually changes every couple of months as her eating, sleeping and playing habits change. Each baby has a different pattern of these habits. However, it is good to hear what other parents have to say regarding this. What is 11-12 month old baby schedule? Read on to learn more about developmental milestones while your baby reaches her first birthday as well as how you should take better care of her.
What Does a 11-12 Month Old Baby Need?
While you are creating a schedule for your 11-12 month old baby, keep in mind the following things:
- Feeding. She needs solid foods at least thrice a day. By this time your baby may actively participate at mealtime, feeding by herself and drinking water from a sipper. In a 24 hour period, she will need 22 to 32 ounces of either breast milk or formula.
- Sleeping. In a 24 hour period your baby will require a little less than 14 hours of sleep including nighttime sleep and naps. Typically she will take two naps during the day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. However, some babies may transition to just one long nap during the day.
- Other activities. She will need time to play and interact with you. She will also work on new skills. You can get more information on kids’ developmental milestone at this stage by reading on to the last part in this article.
Sample 11-12 Month Old Baby Schedule
Sample Schedule 1: Baby-led and Parent-led Routine Combined
Note: This is a schedule of stay-at-home mother of a formula-feeding 11 month old baby
7:30 to 8 a.m.: Baby wakes up and feeds on an 8 ounce bottle of formula
9:30 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast time: oatmeal cereal with yoghurt or pureed fruit along with finger foods
10:30 a.m.: Naps for 2 hours
12:30 p.m.: Lunch time: small pieces of ravioli, chicken, veggies, mac and cheese, apple spread sandwich etc. Drinks 4 ounces of formula. Mother reads books, and plays with baby in between naps and meals.
3 to 4 p.m.: Naps, if awake then feeds on a 5 ounce bottle of formula
6 p.m.: 5 to 6 ounce bottle of formula (if he has skipped the earlier one) and a snack of piece of fruit or small cracker
7 p.m.: Dinner time followed by bath
8 to 9 p.m.: Diaper is changed, teeth are brushed. Mother reads him a book and baby sleeps until morning
Sample Schedule 2: Baby-led and Parent-led Routine Combined
Note: This is a schedule of a breastfeeding stay-at-home mother of a 12 month old baby
7 to 8 a.m.: Baby wakes up and is nursed
8:30 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast time: yoghurt, ½ waffle cut into pieces, baby cereal. Drinks a couple of ounces of water or milk from a sipper. Goes for a walk with mother
10:30 a.m.: Naps for around 1 hour
Noon: Lunch time: A jar of baby food, veggies, dry cereal and pieces of cheese, corn and fruit.
1-2:30 p.m.: Baby plays
2:30 to 3 p.m.: Eats snacks such as finger food and a couple of ounces of milk from a sipper. Naps for 1 hour
4 p.m.: Playtime
5:30 p.m.: Dinner time
7:30 p.m.: Baby is bathed. His teeth are brushed. He is nursed, mother reads him a book and he goes to sleep.
How Your Baby Develops at 11-12 Month and How You Can Help Them Grow
1. Motor Skills
By this time your baby will start moving holding objects or your hand. She may even take some steps on her own. Your baby may climb kitchen counters or over the railing of the crib. Hence, special precautions should be taken with such kids. She will also open cabinets and drawers; hence, baby proofing your house is quite important at this stage. The coordination of hand and eyes improves at this stage; hence, your baby will start arranging toys by color and size. She will also try to take them apart and then put them back together.
2. Eating
By this stage you baby will be experimenting with self feeding. You should include a variety of foods in your baby’s diet such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins such as fish, chicken, beef and tofu, and dairy products. Give snacks such as fruits, crackers and dry cereal to your baby in between meals. She will also start developing sense of taste; hence, you can try adding various tastes to her meal. If your baby is fussy about some particular food, don’t give up and keep trying it. It is found that in some cases babies have to be given the same food 12 times before they will actually like and eat it. However, do not force your baby to eat.
3. Communication
By this stage, your baby will develop a strong sense of likes and dislikes. They will also make use of their emotions to get things done, such as throwing temper tantrums to make you surrender to her demands. She would have learned to say ‘no’ by now. During this age, you can engage your baby in a regular conversation. You will get a response of your question, though you may not understand that. Your baby will point on the thing you name. Your baby has also developed a longer attention span and she can now focus for greater than a few seconds at a given time.
Tips on Helping Your Baby Grow at this Stage
- Your baby will be crawling and walking with help at this stage. Hence, you can help her explore various textures such as of the carpet, floor and grass.
- Reading with your baby regularly is an important habit. Involve her by letting her turn the pages or asking her about the pictures and characters in the book.
- You may begin enforcing good behaviors in your baby at this stage and say a firm no for inappropriate behaviors.
- Inculcate the habit of becoming independent in your baby while eating, dressing etc.
- If your baby is walking by now, you should put socks or a pair of comfortable shoes while going out.
- Talking to your baby about everyday things is important as it will help her understand the meaning of different words.
- Respond to your baby’s sounds. This helps in encouraging back and forth conversation and developing communication skills.
- Play with your baby as it helps her feel secure and loved.
- Give healthy food to your baby. Give her finger foods, which are also helpful in developing her fine motor skills.
